Headline photo: Stuart McCormick
Victorian superstar The Lost Storm is the latest confirmed runner in the $350,000 Group 1 AQWA Constructions The Rising Sun.
The three-year-old colt will head to the Queensland Constellations off the back of an outstanding start to his career, claiming seven victories and two placings in just nine starts and amassing more than $143,000 in prize money.
The son of Captaintreacherous and Ayshe Whitby’s most recent race saw him win by over 36 metres in the $130,000 Group 1 Vicbred Super Series Final for 2YO Colts & Geldings at Melton on New Year’s Eve.
The Lost Storm joins reigning Queensland Horse of the Year, Leap To Fame, in The Rising Sun field, with the race to be staged at The Creek on Saturday, July 8.
The Emma Stewart-Clayton Tonkin stable is hoping to go back-to-back in The Rising Sun after winning the 2022 edition with Ladies In Red.
Stewart said she was expecting The Lost Storm to come back strong after a recent spell.
“He’s been ticking along here but he’s ready to go now, so he’ll probably have a couple of lead up races maybe down here (in Victoria) and then probably fly straight in a few days before The Rising Sun,” Stewart said.
“We think he’s pretty high quality and the field is definitely high quality - Leap To Fame is probably the best horse going around anywhere at the moment.
“To be able to race against him, it’s a pretty big thrill because we’ve got huge respect for that horse and we think he’s a superstar.
“(The extra prize money) makes it easier for us to go up there - we were hesitant to go up there last year, we sort of only went for The Rising Sun because we think Ladies In Red was a freak but the prize money was good.
“When we actually got there, the Constellations is just a super carnival and to increase the prize money it’s going to entice more and more people to go up there and you’re going to get better and better fields so I think it’s a great thing for racing.”
Earlier today, The Lost Storm was also unveiled as a runner in the inaugural $2.1m TAB Eureka, which will be run at Club Menangle on Saturday, September 2.
Stewart said The Rising Sun would be a solid lead-up event for the colt ahead of the world’s richest harness race, where he will also come up against Leap To Fame.
“It is a good warm up because we sort of get to test the waters against Leap To Fame and we know how good he is,” she said.
“We’re unsure how good our fella is at the moment because he’s only turning three, so it will be interesting to see where he matches up against him so it’s definitely going to be exciting.”
The announcement comes on the back of the news that star New Zealand three-year-old Merlin has been forced to withdraw from The Rising Sun due to a hoof issue.
Racing Queensland Senior Harness Racing Manager David Brick said it would open the door for another three-year-old to join the field.
“It is a shame to lose Merlin from The Rising Sun but we now have another invitation to issue to a three-year-old who is looking to step up,” he said.
“There will be plenty of added incentive for whoever does take the spot with a $100,000 bonus on offer if a three-year-old wins the race, as well as the barrier draw advantage over the four-year-olds.
“The field is building nicely and we look forward to unveiling further wildcard acceptances as we draw closer to July 8.”
Throughout the Constellations, more than $3 million in prize money and bonuses will go on the line, including eight Group 1s.
Click here for more information on the 2023 Queensland Constellations.